SEIA Resources
Reports
SEIA produces a variety of research and other supporting resources for the solar industry, ranging from full reports to short factsheets. Below is a list of our reports, organized by date. For a full library of research and resources, click here.
Determinants of Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Energy Technology Adoption: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach
Abstract:
Incentive Pass-through for residential Solar Systems in California
Abstract:
Diffusion of environmentally-friendly energy technologies: buy versus lease differences in residential PV markets
Utilizing a unique dataset from the residential PV market in Texas, the authors construct a financial model based in part on an NREL model that calculates the expected lifecycle costs and revenues of PV system ownership for the residential buying and leasing business models. The results confirm the ability of third party ownership to open up new market segments.
U.S. Residential Photovoltaic System Prices, Q4 2013 Benchmarks: Cash Purchase, Fair Market Value, and Prepaid Lease Transaction Prices
The Executive Summary from the report:
Photovoltaic System Pricing Trends
With significant variance in estimates of cost and price within the solar market, DOE's Sunshot Initiative with scientists from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Lawrence Berkley National Labs, have released their report that seeks to address these differences.
Status of Net Metering: Assessing the Potential to Reach Program Caps
Several states are currently addressing the issue of net metering program caps, which limit the total amount of net metered generating capacity that can be installed in a state or utility service territory. This study examines these program caps and forecasts how long NEM would be expected to be available in various states under current policies.
Solar Means Business 2014: Top U.S. Commercial Solar Users
Business leaders in America’s brightest, most competitive companies are increasingly choosing to install solar energy systems at their facilities. For the third year in a row, not only are more businesses choosing solar, but those that have used solar in the past are doing so again and again on rooftops across America. Walmart, Kohl’s, Costco, Apple, IKEA and more have all embraced solar energy. Collectively, the companies with the most solar capacity in the U.S. now have 1,110 systems totaling 569 megawatts (MW), generating enough electricity to power more than 115,000 homes.
Saving Money & Energy: How Solar Heating & Cooling is Paying Big Dividends for U.S. Businesses
A new report provides case studies of businesses saving money by going solar with solar heating and cooling.
Rethinking Standby & Fixed Cost Charges: Regulatory and Rate Design Pathways to Deeper Solar PV Cost Reductions
Utilities have taken on the practice of applying standby and fixed cost charges specific to solar PV for customers choosing to go solar as a means to recover costs resulting from net energy metering (NEM). These charges are not the most efficient or best means for utilities to recover costs and this report finds that an integrated approach that includes the items below will allow for both effective utility cost recovery and minimal impact on the U.S. PV market.
How Much Do Local Regulations Matter? Exploring the Impact of Permitting and Local Regulatory Processes on PV Prices in the United States
While PV modules and other hardware costs have dropped significantly over recent years, non-hardware soft costs have also fallen, but not nearly as sharply. This research report, authored by experts from Yale University, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin and the US Department of Energy, focuses on the impacts of city-level permitting and other regulatory processes on residential PV prices in the US. Key Findings: